• Really, really curious to watch Ryan Miller. Aside from last year, his late-season numbers aren’t great. Is he starting to burn out from carrying the Sabres on his back, again?

• Thought Marc Crawford made a really interesting point about the team with the most fluid skaters being in best position to win. His theory: as the players get exhausted in the later rounds, those who expend less energy while striding will have an advantage. He pointed out two Canadians in particular: Scott Niedermayer and Patrice Bergeron.

The 2010 Winter Olympics has the ingredients to be the best international hockey tournament ever.

“We have the best environment possible in our 100 years,” said Rene Fasel, the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, the organizing body for the tournament. “If it will be the best tournament, I don’t know. But it is our most important tournament for sure.”

The players and teams involved in playing the 30 games of this tournament will determine if it is the best of the four Olympics that have involved NHL players since the experiment started in Nagano in 1998. But, it is impossible to imagine it not being the case.

Why? Because the best players in the world have all congregated in this city to wage a pitched battle for gold. It should be unforgettable theater.

Canada opened its Vancouver Games account with an 18-0 thumping of Slovakia on Saturday. On Sunday, questions about the lopsided score were raised at the daily IOC-VANOC joint briefing.

IOC director of communications Mark Adams said the issue was not raised between the two organizations

“Clearly if you’re on the losing side of a hiding, it’s never much fun,’’ said the Briton, who watched the game. “But I’m sure they had a great experience and I’m sure they’re thankful to be Olympians.

“You know these things happen in all sports, at all levels. They’re a good team but clearly yesterday Canada were the better team - by a long way.’‘

Asked about a possible mercy rule, Adams said: “It’s an interesting idea. I’m not sure it would have been good last night. I enjoyed watching the game.’‘

The Team Canada coach showed up with his game face on as he hit town to take the helm and finalize preparations for Canada’s first game Tuesday against Norway.

After concentrating on his Detroit Red Wings, Babcock can now fully allow himself to turn his attention to prepping Team Canada.

“Now it’s time to emotionally engage,” said Babcock. “We’ve done all the work, but you’re so involved in your own schedule. I live in the U.S., so you don’t get it like you people do every day. It’s very obvious — I watched the opening ceremonies, I watched the events last night — so it’s very obvious that it’s very exciting. I’m thrilled to be here.”

Sidney Crosby and company are moving into the athletes village, and Canada’s Olympians can’t wait for their new neighbours to arrive.

“I’ll walk up to Crosby and say ‘Hey man, you’re awesome.’ And he’ll be like ‘Who are you?” said Calgary luger Jeff Christie….

“I just would like to know how he deals with certain situations, like the Stanley Cup,” said Toronto figure skater Patrick Chan, a medal contender in his own right. “That’s probably the equivalent of the Olympics. I think he’s really wise and he’s young like I am, so he’s kind of in the same situation.”

Calgary curler Cheryl Bernard said she and her teammates anticipate sitting across the table from them in the dining hall.

“I’m a little concerned that our team is going to get a reputation for being stalkers of the men’s hockey team,” she said.